Scholarships and Awards

Faculty Awards

Faculty of Science Summer Research Awards These scholarships include NSERC USRAs and support undergraduate students wanting to do research with a Biology Faculty member.


These scholarships support undergraduate students wanting to do research with a Biology Faculty member. They include Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) USRA Awards as well as Endowed awards administered by the Faculty of Science. The scholarships are valued at approximately $9,000 (including supervisor contribution).

Student Eligibility:

  • Have completed (by May) at least 52 credit hours of university courses 
  • Have no more than one PASS grade for credit-bearing courses during Winter and Summer 2020, and no more than one PASS grade during Fall/Winter 2020-21
  • Note that you will be asked to submit photocopies of transcripts for all post-secondary institutions that you have attended.
  • Students that are graduating in May will have to submit a letter from their supervisor indicating the quality of the student's research ability and the contribution that the work will make toward bridging them to graduate school.

The Faculty of Science deadline for applying is January 26, 2024. Information is available and application can be made via the following links:

Faculty of Science general Information:
https://dalu.sharepoint.com/sites/science/SitePages/summer-research.aspx

Direct link for student application:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=mRm4YH8LLUGSo-F9iunj4EyCEtP7BUxAmc0V6fr6Dl5UM05DV0NZVTBRNTBKSEtDVzZWWE0yRzhTNi4u

Direct link for supervisor application:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=mRm4YH8LLUGSo-F9iunj4EyCEtP7BUxAmc0V6fr6Dl5UOFQ5MEFGQUM4WUpOT0NUVVBRWFhGU0xRSi4u

A list of student projects for which Biology Dept supervisors are looking for applicants can be found (here).

Imhotep’s Legacy Academy Summer Student Research Scholarship for African Canadians

Summer Student Research Scholarship for African Canadians pursuing an undergraduate degree in Science

ILA has partnered with Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Computer Science, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Engineering, and Faculty of Health, and Faculty of Science to support university students as they conduct specialized research in their chosen field under the guidance of a Dalhousie faculty member whose primary appointment is within these departments.

These scholarships are valued at $6,500 each, are tenable at Dalhousie University and are paid-out over the summer months (May – August).
Academic performance, research ability, and leadership/community involvement will all be considerations for applications.

Student Eligibility

  • Enrollment at Dalhousie University and completion of at least two years of an undergraduate program
  • A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required at the time of application
  • Be a member of the African Nova Scotian community or African Canadian
  • Demonstrate a serious interest in a future career in medicine or medical research
  • Quality of the student (research experience, skills, fit to the project)
  • Contributions of the student to the project
  • Preference is given to applicants who have participated in, or who intend to participate in Imhotep’s Legacy Academy

Additional information, contacts, and downloadable applications can be found (Here)

Fall Awards

Hugh P. Bell Scholarship
Awarded to the honours students in the 4900 honours class with the highest GPAs in their Biology and/or Marine Biology classes.

Basis of selection: Awarded to the honours students in the BIOL/MARI 4901/2 honours class with the highest GPA in their Biology and/or Marine Biology classes. Determined by the Undergraduate Awards Committee each fall. (pdf)

Developmental Biology Prize
Awarded to the student with the highest total grade in Developmental Biology, Biology 3050 each fall.

This fund created in May 2005 by Dr. Brain Hall with money he was awarded winning one of four $10,000 Killam Prizes for 2005. Awarded to the student with the highest total grade in Developmental Biology, Biology 3050 each fall. Selected by the Developmental Instructor.

The David Dougall Memorial Bursary
Support for one or more students majoring in biology in their third or fourth years.

The intent of the bursary, named for a former biology student, is to provide assistance and encouragement to one or more students majoring in Biology or Marine Biology probably entering  third or fourth year. For more info and forms, download the (pdf).

The Gary Hicks Memorial Award
Support for a student in the honour's program whose major area of study is botany.

This annual award is named for a former faculty member remembered for his enthusiasm for teaching and dedication to biology. This award goes to a student in the honour's program whose major area of study is botany. For more info and forms, download the.  (pdf)

Shao Hua and Wen Hsiang Yoh Prizes
Awarded for the first and second highest standing in second year Biology courses.

Terms of Reference: First awarded October 2, 2001. Earnings from the fund will be used to support two prizes annually. The first prize will be for the student who achieves the highest standing in second year Biology courses and a second prize will also be awarded to the student who achieves the second highest standing in second year biology courses. The classes which will be considered will be from the biology CORE classes which are required for all Biology Majors and Honours students. To be eligible, students must have taken a minimum of FOUR of these classes in their 2nd year (Biology 2020, 2030, 2040 and one of 2060, 2003, or 2004). The recipients are determined by the Undergraduate Awards Committee in the fall of each year.

Innovasea Scholarship in Marine Biology
Awarded to a final year Marine Honours student that has demonstrated significant academic achievement and also has demonstrated extracurricular involvement

The terms of the award are:
1. To provide a scholarship to a student entering the final year of Marine Biology. Students can be in Marine Co-op as well but must be in honours program.
2. The recipient of the scholarship will have demonstrated significant academic achievement. This will be determined from students’ GPAs in their upper level (>1000) Biology/Marine classes. Only students with a minimum of a 3.3 (B+) GPA in these classes should consider applying.
3. The recipient will also have demonstrated extracurricular involvement including any of the following: athletics, fine arts, student body involvement and/or volunteer work in the community. Applicants will be required to submit a letter to the Honours/Undergraduate Awards Committee highlighting their extracurricular activities. The Committee will then select student with the top GPA who also satisfies the extracurricular terms. details in (pdf)

Winter Awards

The Alex Graham Memorial Award
Awarded to a student with a major in Marine Biology who has shown outstanding participation, dedication with satisfactory academic performance.

This award goes to a student in the marine biology program who has shown outstanding participation, dedication and contribution to the department, demonstrated satisfactory academic performance and declared their major as marine biology. For more info and forms, download the (pdf)

Nancy Greenberg Memorial Award

Awarded to the student who has been established to recognize the contribution made by a student to Dalhousie Association of  Biology Students, the Department of Biology and the community at large.
For more information: pdf

W. Andrew Mackay Alumni Scholarship
Provided to a returning undergraduate Dalhousie student registered in the Faculty of Architecture & Planning, Arts & Social Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, Health, Management, or Science, or the Dental Hygiene program.

The number and value of awards vary each year. Award values typically range from $1500 - $3000.
For more info and forms, download the (pdf)

Dr. Ron O’Dor Award

Established in memory of Dr. Ron O’Dor, a professor in the Biology Department known for his enthusiasm for teaching, his caring nature as an advisor, and his dedication to biology and biology students, this prize is given to a Biology or Marine Biology Honours student with high academic standing who is involved in research on cephalopod physiology and/or marine animal tracking.

The Dr. J.G. Odgen Memorial Prize

This prize will be awarded annually to a top 4th year honour student whose research falls within the realm of freshwater ecology, with preference given to those studying freshwater plant ecology.
For more information : pdf

Sarah Lawson Research Scholarships
This scholarship fund supports 4-5 Biology or Marine Biology students to conduct BOTANICAL research during the summer.

The scholarships are valued at approximately $1,750/month and can be held for a minimum of 3 and maximum of 4 months. For more info and forms, download the  (pdf).

Spring Awards

B'nai B'rith Prize
Awarded to the student with the highest grade in Biology 1010 and 1011.

Terms of Reference: Given annually to the student earning the highest grade in Biology 1010 and 1011. Selected by the Instructors for Biology 1010 and 1011 each May.

David Durward Memorial Prize
Awarded to the best student in The Physiology of Marine Animals.

Terms of Reference: This prize is to be awarded to the best student in Comparative Animal Physiology (BIOL/MARI 3370 and 3371) class. The prize is awarded in memory of Robert David Durwood who was an accomplished postgraduate student in the Department. Selected by the Physiology Instructor each May.

A.H.L.D Gunawardena Memorial Prize in Diversity of Life II (Plant Section)

Awarded to the student who obtains the highest combined final mark in all assessments, from both lecture and lab components, in the plant section of Diversity of Life II (Biology 2004).

Ming Fang Li Memorial Prize in Marine Biology
Awarded to the best Marine Biology Co-op student in their 3rd year based on academic standing and workterm performance.

Terms of Reference: Awarded to the best Marine Biology Co-op student in their 3rd year based on academic standing and workterm performance. Selected by Marine Co-op Co-ordinator each May.

Cecelia Rajaratnam Memorial Prize in Plant Cell Biology
Awarded for a student who demonstrates passion and excels academically in Plant Cell Biology

The purpose of this prize is to recognize and reward a student who demonstrates a passion for the subject of Plant Cell Biology (Biology 4220) and excels academically in the course.

The Rob Stewart Award in Marine Conservation

Awarded to an honour student for research in marine conservation.
For more information : pdf

Past award and prize recipients